Protective cover for telephone and telegraph distributing frame terminal blocks



y 1967 R. L. AYERS PROTECTIVE COVER FOR TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPHDISTRIBUTING FRAME TERMINAL BLOCKS Filed May a. 1964 INVENTOR. E040fl L.Aye/'5 United States Patent 3,329,927 PROTECTIVE COVER FOR TELEPHONE ANDTELEGRAPH DISTRIBUTING FRAME TER- MINAL BLOCKS Ralph L. Ayers, 4228 N.Chelsea, Kansas City, Mo. 64117 Filed May 8, 1964, Ser. No. 365,914 11Claims. (Cl. 339198) This invention relates to structure for shieldingand protecting the terminal portions of terminal blocks from contactwith solder splashes, wire clippings, tools, watchbands, and otherforeign articles.

Distributing frame terminal blocks are widely used in the telephone andtelegraph industry to facilitate the interconnection of the multitude ofcables required for the many distribution lines. Heretofore, it has beenthe practice to leave the terminals of these blocks exposed and,therefore, a constant hazard for workmen is prevented. Since theterminals are frequently sharp and pointed, a puncture wound hazardexists as well as the possibility of electrical shock. Additionally,unprotected terminals sometimes become bent and short together causingan interruption in normal service.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide aprotective shield for terminal blocks of this type which will preventboth damage to the terminals and injury to workmen.

It is another important object of this invention to provide such aprotective shield which is readily removable so that access to theterminals may be gained when desired.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a protectiveshield as aforesaid which will adequately protect both the terminals andpersonnel regardless of whether or not the terminal block ishorizontally or vertically disposed.

Other objects will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the instant invention showing thecable side of the terminal block;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the soldered terminal side ofthe terminal block;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 2.

A distributing frame terminal block is shown at 10 in the drawing and isprovided with a protective cover 12 and an elongated, transverselyU-shaped, protective cap 14. Cover 12 forms a protective shield for agroup of terminals 16, while cap 14 comprises a protective shield for agroup of terminals 18. The individual terminals making up groups 16 and18 are interconnected, the same each being at opposed ends of a commonconnecting strip 17, the connecting strips 17 each extending through aterminal support 20 which is carried by a base 22. Support 20 and base22 are fabricated from a suitable insulating material such as wood,rubber or the like.

Mounting base 22 is rectangular in configuration and is illustrated in alongitudinally upright position. Terminal support 20 is also rectangularand is disposed in a longitudinally upright position. Thus, as may beclearly seen in FIG. 4, base 22 and support 20 comprise a structuralconfiguration that is transversely T-shaped.

The plan view of FIG. 4 shows the groups of terminals 16 and 18 eachextending oppositely horizontally outwardly from support 20. Aninsulating guard 24 is in- 3,329,927 Patented July 4, 1967 tegral withsupport 20 and serves to partially protect the group of terminals 16.Note that each of these terminals is provided with an inclinedprojection 26 extending away from base 22, such projections 26 beingutilized for connection of a conductive cable thereto, asby wrapping thecable about projection 26, thereby coupling each of the terminals 16with a corresponding cable.

The enlarged sectional view of FIG. 6 shows the terminals 16 in detail,and also reveals an opening or passage 28 in base 22 which permitselectrical cables to pass through the base to the projections 26. Cover12 comprises a rectangular, substantially planar sheet or wall 30provided with a flange 32, extending from one longitudinal margin ofwall 30, and a lip 34 extending from the opposite longitudinal marginthereof. Flange 32 is approximately a right angle flange and hook overbase 22 as clearly shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. Lip 34 hooks over thevertically aligned row of projections 26 adjacent guard 24 and remotefrom base 22. Cover 12 is composed of a flexible material, preferablyplastic, and thus may be readily removed upon flexure thereof whenaccess to terminals 16 is desired.

A protective end piece 36 is integral with wall 30 and extends from theupper transverse margin thereof toward support 20. End piece 36 thusoverlies the group of terminals 16 to shield the same from wireclippings, solder splashes and the like during work on the distributingframe. End piece 36, wall 30, and flange 32 deline a cutout or clearanceslot 38 which receives base 22. Also, end piece 36 and the corner ofwall 30 adjacent lip 34 define a clearance notch 40 for the lip. It maybe seen, especially in FIG. 4, that end piece 36 is of gen erallyrectangular configuration and substantially fills the entire verticalspace above the group of terminals 16 since the end piece extends intonearly abutting relationship with base 22 and support 20. 7

Cap 14, which forms the protective shield for the group of terminals 18,has an outwardly convex bight 42 and a pair of opposed sides 44 and 46integral with the longitudinal margins of bight 42. Each of theterminals 18, as may best be seen in FIG. 5, has a depression 48 in oneedge thereof adjacent the tip of the terminal, and a pair of notches 50therein spaced along the other edge of the terminal. It may be seen thatthe terminals 18 are arranged in vertical rows, the two outer rows beingof particular interest in the instant invention.

The longitudinal free edge of side 44 of cap 14 is provided with aflange 52, the other side 46 also being provided with a flange 54extending along its longitudinal free edge. The depressions 48 andnotches 50 in the various terminals 18 face in opposite directions;therefore, as may be seen in FIG. 5, flange 52 of side 44 is received inthe depressions 48 of one outer row of terminals 18, while the flange 54of side 46 is seated in the notches 50 adjacent support 20 of the otherouter row 'of terminals 18. A number of ridges 56 extend longitudinallyalong side 46, adjacent the common margin of side 46 and bight 42, andserve to reinforce the cap structure.

Cap 14 is also composed ofa flexible substance, preferably plastic, topermit ready removal of the cap from the group of terminals 18 when itis desired to make electrical connections thereto. Note that a row ofopenings 28 through base 22 is also provided to permit passage ofelectrical cables through the base to the terminals 18.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, an end member 58 is illustratedintegral with the upper transverse margin of bight 42, end member 58extending from the bight toward support 20. The end member is of atrapezoidal configuration and extends into nearly abutting relationshipwith support 20, thereby overlying the group of terminals 18 to shieldthe same from wire clippings, solder splashes and the like in the samemanner as end piece 36 shields the group of terminals 16-.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a terminal block having a mounting base, aterminal support rigid with the base and extending therefrom, a firstgroup of terminals arranged in rows on said support, each of theterminals of one outer row having an outwardly facing depressiontherein, each of the terminals of the other outer row having a notchtherein facing oppositely from said depressions, and a second group ofterminals on said support having inclined projections extending awayfrom said base, the terminals of said second group being interconnectedwith those of the first group, protective structure comprising:

an elongated, transversely U-shaped, flexible cap for said first groupof terminals, said cap having a bight and a pair of opposed sidesextending from the longitudinal margins of said bight, one of said sidesbeing received by said depressions, the other side being seated in saidnotches, said cap being removable from the block upon flexing thereofand disengagement of said sides with the terminals of said outer rows ofthe first group; and

a flexible cover for said second group of terminals including a wallhaving a pair of opposed margins and provided with a flange extendingfrom one of said margins and a lip extending from the other margin, saidcover extending between said inclined projections and said base, withsaid flange hooked over the base and said lip hooked over theprojections, and being removable from the block upon flexing of thecover and disengagement of the flange and lip from the base and theprojections, whereby both of said groups are normally protected by thecap and the cover but may be rendered readily accessible when it isdesired to connect cables thereto.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said one side of the cap isprovided with a flange extending longitudinally of the cap and receivedby said depressions, said other side of the cap being provided with aflange extending longitudinally of the cap and seated in said notches.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein said support is upright, theterminals of both of said groups extending generally horizontally fromsaid support, and wherein said cap is provided with a protective endmember rigid with said bight and overlying said first group, said coverbeing provided with a protective end piece rigid with said wall andoverlying said second group.

4. In combination with a terminal block having a mounting base, anupright terminal support extending therefrom, and a group of terminalsextending generally horizontally from said support and arranged in rowson said support, each of the terminals of one outer row having anoutwardly facing depression therein, each of the terminals of the otherouter row having a notch therein lfacing oppositely from saiddepressions, protective structure comprising an elongated, transverselyU- shaped, flexible cap for said group of terminals, said cap having abight and a pair of opposed sides extending from the longitudinalmargins "of said bight, one of said sides being received by saiddepressions, the other side being seated in said notches, said cap beingprovided with a protective end member overlying said group, the capbeing removable from the block upon flexing thereof and disengagement ofsaid sides with the terminals of said outer rows, whereby the group isnormally protected by the cap but may be rendered readily accessiblewhen it is desired to connect cables thereto.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein said one side of the cap isprovided with a flange extending longitudinally of the cap and receivedby said depressions, said other side of the cap being provided with aflange extending longitudinally of the cap and seated in said notches.

6. The invention of claim 4, wherein the bight of said cap istransversely convex.

7. In combination with a terminal block having a mounting base, aterminal support rigid with the base and extending therefrom, and agroup of terminals on said support having inclined projections extendingaway from said base, protective structure comprising a flexible coverfor said group including a wall having a pair of opposed margins andprovided with a flange extending from one of said margins and a lipextending from the other margin, said cover extending between saidinclined projections and said base, with said flange hooked over thebase and said lip hooked over the projections, and being removable fromthe block upon flexing of the cover and disengagement of the flange andlip from the base and the projections, whereby the group is normallyprotected by the cover but may be rendered readily accessible when it isdesired to connect cables thereto.

8. The invention of claim 7, wherein said support is upright, theterminals of said group extending generally horizontally from saidsupport, and wherein said cover is provided with a protective end pieceand overlying said group.

9. The invention of claim 8, wherein the ends of said projections aregenerally vertically aligned.

10. The invention of claim 8, wherein said end piece, said wall, andsaid flange define a clearance slot for said base.

11. In combination with a terminal block having a mounting base and aterminal assembly, said assembly comprising a terminal support memberrigid with the base and extending perpendicularly therefrom, and aplurality of elements on said support having inclined projectionsextending away from said base, protective structure comprising aflexible cover for said elements including a wall having a pair ofopposed margins and provided with a flange extending from one of saidmargins and a lip extending from the other margins, said flange engagingsaid base and said lip engaging said terminal assembly to provide meanssecuring said protective structure to said terminal block, saidprotective structure being removable upon flexing of the cover anddisengagement of the flange and lip from the base and assembly, wherebythe elements are normally protected by the cover but may be renderedreadily accessible when it is desired to connect cables thereto.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,685,847 10/1928 Huntington33915l X 1,926,927 9/1933 Woertz 317118 2,534,864 12/1950 Fritz 339-1982,585,010 2/1952 Hickman et al. 2427 2,916,720 12/1959 Steans 229-913,013,105 12/1961 Craig 339-36 X 3,175,031 3/1965 Reiner 339-128 XMARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED S. TRASK, EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiners.

P. TEITELBAUM, Assistant Examiner.

7. IN COMBINATION WITH A TERMINAL BLOCK HAVING A MOUNTING BASE, ATERMINAL SUPPORT RIGID WITH THE BASE AND EXTENDING THEREFROM, AND AGROUP OF TERMINALS ON SAID SUPPORT HAVING INCLINED PROJECTIONS EXTENDINGAWAY FROM SAID BASE, PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE COVERFOR SAID GROUP INCLUDING A WALL HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED MARGINS ANDPROVIDED WITH A FLANGE EXTENDING FROM ONE OF SAID MARGINS AND A LIPEXTENDING FROM THE OTHER MARGIN, SAID COVER EXTENDING BETWEEN SAIDINCLINED PROJECTIONS AND SAID BASE, WITH SAID FLANGE HOOKED OVER THEBASE AND SAID LIP HOOKED OVER THE PROJECTIONS, AND BEING REMOVABLE FROMTHE BLOCK UPON FLEXING OF THE COVER AND DISENGAGEMENT OF THE FLANGE ANDLIP FROM THE